By extension, is any of the conversations on this forum worth having? What is the point of the whole exercise? Why be on this forum at all?!
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From previous conversations with guest, it was ascertained that he had no family in path of IRMA, whereas I had 15 family members in the path of IRMA, which was why I was live streaming a Tampa news station, rather than a local NY station.
Admittedly, I did not include that fact when I posted about this topic.
However, I believe I did mention in one of my posts in this thread, that when I had guests staying from Paris during the Paris terrorist attacks, I did make the use of my laptop available to them as they were on a one month tour of this country and they did not bring a laptop or tablet with them due to conservation of luggage space.
My laptop had multiple windows open, including this forum, facebook, twitter, my Airbnb account, my email and my Amazon account. I do NOT feel the need to defend myself for having those windows open.
I totally disagree that this was a ‘slight indescretion’. It was an absolute invasion of personal property. It’s no different than if he would have accessed my personal cell phone just because I left it in his view, and no different than if I had left my purse on the chair, that he help himself to looking inside.
In ABB email messaging system in my welcome email, I encourage guests to feel free to bring their laptops and/or tablets for internet access.
My specific question to the members of the forum was do I give details, or just indicate a lack of boundaries.
And as whether or not ‘is this whole conversation worth having’–I enjoy this forum and have gleaned a great deal of useful advice both from topics I’ve posted, as well as what others post as topics. So yeah…I did feel this conversation was worth having.
Edited to add: You mentioned you didn’t want to add to the controversy of this thread, but I don’t feel this thread got controversial, there may have been some differing opinions, but that’s what happens in discussions with multiple people, whether online or in person.
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Geez… guys…
My point is that this was not a criminal offense, and not something that would warrant an additional charge (laptop rent?) through the Resolution Center, so the only real recourse is that you most definitely should include this in the blighter’s review… You should say it in no uncertain terms, with attention paid to the potential for disaster, and the emotional impact of the offense.
It was bad, they were wrong - you are correct.
My point is that these kind of offenses happen all the time, and short of kicking them out on the spot, calling the authorities, or charging them for the Laptop Rental - your recourse is to blast them in their review; inform future hosts of this guest’s proclivity toward meddling and digital skullduggery, slap their hand and their permanent record. Write it in the review, by all means!
But the human capital that has been invested in this forum on one conversation is staggering - all because a thoughtless, entitled guest took liberties with your laptop.
I guess I was attempting to take more on my shoulders than is my due by skipping back to the front and letting you off the hook.
Write a scathing review. Burn them to the ground with your righteous indignation. (Seriously.) Flame-throw your review with acerbic vitriol and vile contempt. Do it. Write the words. Spend yourself in verbal battle and spill their blood upon the 1-star page.
And then go plant something; it’s very therapeutic.
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This was a Trust and Security Issue according the ABB rep I spoke to concerning this behavior. ABB does have a Trust and Security department.
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Laptop rent? Did Brooke mention laptop rent?
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I will expend even more human capital responding to this.
There are undercurrents to my posting of this topic that are more subtle than just what I posted.
This is the first brutal review I’ve ever written. Which I know…should seem like no big deal if a guest deserves a brutal review.
However, it is important to consider the unsaid thoughts and feelings about leaving my first brutal review.
Even without the invasion of using my laptop, any guest who stays here, knows so many things about me even if I don’t share too much with them ( I often do not tell guests too much about my life, in fact, this guest had no idea I had family members in Florida in the path of Irma).
Every host takes a chance with guest knowing certain details of their life just by the Airbnb process. For instance, in a shared home situation such as mine, they know my address. They also know my home phone number. But, they also know that I live alone in the boonies, and depending on the days of the week they stay, they may know my work hours, they may also know my employer if they see my work vehicle. (on the rare occasions I have it here, I often park it in a different driveway if I have guests here).
So, even without the intrusion onto my laptop, I take a chance by writing a brutal review that a guest may pursue retaliation. And I’ve had a few guests over the years that have been questionable enough, or outright physically abusive enough, to have removed from my property. Many of the forum members here know this.
Add on the actual intrusion to my laptop, and this guest now knows my moniker here, on twitter, and had access to many other details of my personal life that I did not give him permission to have.
So, here I am, getting up the guts to write a rather harsh review of a guest who obviously has boundary and respect issues.
I was concerned and turned to the group here for support.
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Exactly. I wish when I started hosting 5 years ago that this forum existed. It would have saved me a lot of heartache. Sharing your experience and asking for opinion is so helpful. No matter how experienced you are (or think you are) sometimes things will come up and you can feel unsure. It’s always good to get feedback from fellow hosts.
“Human capital” wtf? 
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Seriously, what does “human capital” actually mean? Conversation? Employees? Workforce? Proletariat? Blood-filled drones?
Is it like “collateral damage” (oops, we killed some children by mistake)
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Human capital to me is the sum total of the skills and talents of an individual.
And this forum, I’m glad to avow, has been a fantastic way of honing our human capital as hosts and as humans!
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I know what it means “officially” but it still reeks of Orwellian nonsense to me. Let’s face it, the only person who would contemplate judging the “sum total of the skills and talents of an individual” is somebody who wants to make money out of said people. I know, that’s how the world works for the most part but I don’t have to like it. There is NO sum total!
But I’m glad you like this forum! It is indeed great 
It’s the best, actually.
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Human capital is one of those corporate speak nonsense terms like skill sets and synergy. 
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This is one of my favorite words used in the proper context. I was a member of the Synergy Trio for about 15 years; and indeed we were better than the sum of our parts. Its roots are in the hard sciences, and does actually have a real meaning that is not bus-no-babble.
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Did you just coin a new description for nonsense business speak?!
The God Google says you did 
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I have been using this phrase for a number of years. Came to me after a really tedious meeting.
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Let’s drill down on this matter a bit further!
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Ekkk sounds horrible 
thinking of you x
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A few responses ago, Brook2adks gave more details to describe what s/he is experiencing in pondering a clear and honest review of the guest who violated her privacy by using her laptop, sans permission.
It felt to me as if s/he wanted to justify the waste of " human capital " ( heaven help us ) expended on this topic.
Brook2adks, there is no need at all to justify your post. Your concerns are valid, and, even if the mob decided they weren’t, this forum is a place where we can ask for help, guidance and/or understanding with the myriad vicissitudes of being an airbnb host. I’m grateful for that.
I understand your concerns. All of them.
I hope after you’ve posted your review of the cad, you can begin to recover from the shock of it all.
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Thanks @astralita12. I’ve actually snoozed my listing, even though I do usually get booked each weekend in late September to mid October.
I’ve decided to no longer be a host on Airbnb, there is a chance I may change my mind next summer season, but right now, that does not seem likely.
There are many risks involved, and some of them I’ve experienced first hand. The risks no longer outweigh the benefit for me.
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"But only for a few minutes"
Just an FYI…I used to be a computer tech. It takes less than 2 minutes to install a remote access keylogger which gives any hacker access to anything you type into your laptop going forward. That means passwords for bank accounts, email, airbnb accounts, Facebook etc. That then gives access to ANY info they want, including Facebook messages, friend lists, emails sent, emails received, all bills and accounts you access, etc. TWO minutes to install such a keylogger or even spyware that tracks what you look at and takes screenshots. Hacker can access this info remotely after installed. Spyware is hidden and does not show up in registry so you never know it is there. The only way to get rid of it is by reinstalling the Operating system and even then, it sometimes has the ability to replicate itself. Your guest may have been innocuously watching the news or he may have been pretending to innocuously watch the news while he installed spyware. Do not believe this is far fetched. Identity theives specifically rent airbnb’s to gain access to info. Often, that info is in unlocked offices or file cabinets that can be accessed when owner leaves for some reason. An unprotected laptop is a PRIME TARGET. While OP “should not have to be inconvenienced” by typing in a password every time, the reality is, that when you rent out your personal space to ANYONE, including STR or even a roommate, you must take certain precautions to prevent access to personal information. It is just the cost of doing business. If it is “inconvenient” to type a 6-8 digit password, imagine how inconvenient it would be to have your identity stolen and/or face the next year or two calling banks, internet providers, Amazon, Ebay, Airbnb, Gmail, Yahoo and every account you own to change all your passwords, confirm it’s you and have to fax affadavits to all, including credit reporting agencies, etc. Imagine having your bank account and all assets frozen until a full investigation has been done Imagine applying for a car or house loan in the future and being rejected because of some snafu that occured during the identity theft. At any rate, securing your latop is as easy as changing the setting on “what closing the lid does” (locks computer). And as for me, if ANYONE had access to my laptop besides me while I was out of the room, I would do a full OS reinstall, (and hope no spyware or keylogger was reinstalled with it) no matter how innocent the use of my laptop may seem. I just wouldn’t trust that they didn’t install something that could make my life hell. I guess I just know too much and it’s scary.
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Thanks for this! Just a question… doesn’t the installer need to type in the admin password to install? At least on a Mac they do?
I think this was the last straw for Brook. She stopped hosting after this alarming incident.